New Waters

Ivy adjusted her turquoise hoodie and gripped the sea monster necklace hanging around her neck. The hallways of GC High School buzzed with extraordinary students—some with wings tucked behind their backs, others with eyes that glowed like stars.

"Mom packed seaweed sandwiches again," she whispered to herself, opening her lunch bag near her locker. The smell of ocean water drifted out.

A group of older students walked by, their voices carrying across the corridor. "Did you see that new kid's mom at pickup yesterday? She barely said two words to anyone."

Ivy's stomach twisted. They had to be talking about her mother, Mariza. Her mom always stayed in the car during pickup, windows rolled up, avoiding eye contact with other parents.

"My dad says some of the water gods went through really bad stuff," another student added. "That's why they act all weird and quiet."

Ivy clutched her necklace tighter. She wanted to defend her mom, but the words stuck in her throat like seaweed.

The Cafeteria Cricket

The cafeteria buzzed with lunch conversations. Ivy sat alone at a corner table, picking at her seaweed sandwich. A small cricket hopped onto her tray, its green body gleaming under the fluorescent lights.

"Hey, isn't that the water goddess's kid?" A voice carried from three tables away.

Ivy looked up. Maya, a popular girl with fire powers, pointed directly at her. "My older sister told me all about her mom. Mariza used to be this big hero, but now she's totally silent and weird."

"I heard she choked on sea monster blood," another student whispered loudly. "Lost her whole crew too. That's why she won't talk to anyone."

The cricket on Ivy's tray chirped softly, as if sensing her distress. More students turned to stare. Some pulled out their phones, probably texting about the gossip.

"No wonder she's so quiet," Maya continued. "Trauma makes people act crazy sometimes."

Ivy's hands shook as she gripped her sea monster necklace. The cricket hopped closer to her fingers, its tiny legs tickling her skin. Everyone was watching now, waiting to see what the daughter of the broken goddess would do.